Turned Away for Standard Implants Due to Bone Loss? Here’s the Alternative Most Dentists Won’t Offer

If you’ve been told you don’t have enough bone for implants, you’re probably assuming that’s the end of the conversation. For a lot of dentists, it is, because standard implant training doesn’t cover what to do next.

But it isn’t the end of the road, it’s just the point where most practices run out of options. There’s a specific solution built for exactly this situation, and it’s one that surprisingly few clinics offer.

We’re Hale Dental and Implant Clinic, and this exact scenario, someone who’s been turned away elsewhere, comes up regularly with patients asking about zygomatic implants.

Why standard implants get ruled out in the first place

Regular dental implants rely on bone in the upper or lower jaw to fuse with the titanium post, which is what gives them their strength. When someone’s gone years without teeth in that area, or worn dentures for a long time, that bone gradually resorbs.

At that point, most dentists offer bone grafting as the next step, adding material to rebuild what’s been lost before implants can go in. That works for plenty of patients. But grafting has its limits too, and for people with significant bone loss, particularly in the upper jaw, grafting alone often isn’t enough, or it means months of additional healing with no guarantee it’ll be sufficient.

What are zygomatic implants?

Zygomatic dental implants sidestep the bone loss problem entirely by anchoring somewhere else altogether: the zygomatic bone, which is your cheekbone. Unlike the upper jaw, the cheekbone is dense and rarely affected by the resorption that happens after tooth loss, which means it can support an implant even in cases of severe bone loss where standard implants simply aren’t viable.

Instead of a short implant post going straight up into the jawbone that may not be there, zygomatic implants are considerably longer, anchoring diagonally through the jaw and into the cheekbone itself. Typically four implants are placed: two standard implants angled to support the front teeth, and two extra-long angled implants reaching the zygomatic bone on either side. It’s a more specialised, more surgically demanding procedure, which is exactly why it isn’t something every implant dentist offers, and why it can usually be completed in a single day.

Why it matters that this option even exists

For patients who’ve been told no more than once, that repeated rejection tends to settle into a belief that implants just aren’t possible for them, full stop. That belief is usually wrong. Zygomatic implants exist specifically for cases where standard implants and grafting fall short, and they’re the difference between someone accepting a lifetime of dentures and getting a fixed, permanent solution instead.

It’s also often faster than the grafting route. Because zygomatic implants don’t rely on rebuilding lost bone first, many patients can move to a fixed set of teeth in a single procedure, rather than a graft, a lengthy healing period, and then implant placement afterward.

Who tends to need this option

This isn’t the first-line treatment for most implant patients, and it shouldn’t be. It’s specifically suited to people with severe upper jaw bone loss, often after long-term denture wear, previous failed grafting attempts, or cases where the sinus cavity has expanded into the space bone grafting would normally rebuild. If you’ve been told your case is “too complex” or “too far gone” for standard implants, this is the category you likely fall into.

What zygomatic implants cost at Hale Dental

Because the procedure is more specialised and surgically involved than standard implants, it’s priced accordingly. Our advanced All-on-4 treatment with zygomatic implants starts from £25,995 per jaw. It’s a meaningful investment, but for patients who’ve exhausted other options, it’s the route to a fixed, non-removable result rather than a lifetime of dentures. We offer 0% finance over 12 months, or up to 5 years at 12.9% APR, to spread the cost.

Why this needs a specialist, not just any implant dentist

Given how close the procedure works to the sinus and cheekbone, planning has to be precise, which is why it’s led here by Dr Richard Brookshaw, one of the UK’s few zygomatic implant surgeons, with extensive experience in complex and advanced implant cases. A proper assessment involves detailed 3D imaging to map exactly how much bone remains and where the zygomatic implants would need to sit.

If you’ve been told no before

Being turned down for implants once doesn’t mean you’ve run out of options, it just means you were seeing a dentist who doesn’t offer this particular solution. If bone loss has been the reason you’ve been told implants aren’t possible, it’s worth getting a second opinion before accepting that as final. Book a consultation with us in Hale (£195, or £145 for a root canal assessment where relevant) and we’ll give you a straight answer on whether zygomatic implants could work for you.

Frequently asked questions

How much do zygomatic implants cost at Hale Dental?

Our advanced All-on-4 with zygomatic implants starts from £25,995 per jaw. 0% finance over 12 months, or up to 5 years at 12.9% APR, is available.

Is the procedure painful?

It’s carried out under anaesthetic so you shouldn’t feel pain during the procedure itself, and it can typically be completed in a single day.

How is this different from a bone graft?

A bone graft rebuilds lost jaw bone first, which can take several months to heal before implants go in. Zygomatic implants anchor into the cheekbone instead, avoiding that wait.